Gustavus Vasa Fox, born 13 June 1821 at Saugus, Mass., was appointed midshipman 12 January 1838. During the Mexican War, he served in the brig Washington in the squadron of Commodore Perry and took active part in the second expedition against Tobasco, 14-16 January 1847, which resulted in the capture of that town. He was in command of several mail steamers and after his resignation 30 July 1856, engaged in the manufacture of woolen materials. At the start of the Civil War he volunteered for service. He was given a temporary appointment in the Navy and was sent in the steamer Baltic to the relief of Major Robert Anderson and the remnant of his command in Fort Sumter, and brought them away. On 1 August 1861, President Lincoln appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy, an office which he held until the close of the Civil War. In 1866, he was sent on a special mission to Russia and conveyed the congratulations of the President of the United States to the Czar upon his escape from assassination. His voyage was made in the monitor Miantonomah which was the first vessel of this class to cross the Atlantic. He died 29 October 1883 at Lowell, Mass. Torpedo Boat No. 13, DD-234 and DLG/CG-33 were named for Gustavus Fox.

Photo #: 19-N-14-26-1. USS Fox (Torpedo Boat # 13) under construction at the Wolff & Zwicker Iron Works, Portland, Oregon, 30 June 1897. This view shows the vessel's stern, from off the port quarter, with hull plating bolted in place in preparation for riveting.

Paul Rebold

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Photo #: 19-N-14-26-2. USS Fox (Torpedo Boat # 13) under construction at the Wolff & Zwicker Iron Works, Portland, Oregon, 30 June 1897. This view was taken from off the vessel's starboard quarter, with hull plating bolted in place in preparation for riveting. The bow of USS Davis (Torpedo Boat # 12) is visible at left.

Paul Rebold

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Photo #: 19-N-14-26-3. USS Fox (Torpedo Boat # 13) under construction at the Wolff & Zwicker Iron Works, Portland, Oregon, 1897.
This view was taken from off the vessel's port bow, showing frames in place. Temporary stringers are in use to keep frames aligned until plating is installed. Note the light weight of these frames, and bolts employed to hold plating in place prior to riveting.

Paul Rebold

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A starboard side line drawing by A.D. Baker III of USS Fox (Torpedo Boat # 13) as she appeared in 1898. Image scanned from U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman.

Robert Hurst

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Photo #: 19-N-14-26-4. USS Fox (Torpedo Boat # 13) in the building shed at the Wolff & Zwicker Iron Works, Portland, Oregon, probably shortly before she was launched on 4 July 1898. This view was taken from off the boat's bow. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Paul Rebold

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USS Fox (TB-13) in the building shed at the Wolff & Zwicker Iron Works, Portland. Oregon, probably shortly before she was launched on 4 July 1898 (Photo # NH 98426).

USS Fox (Torpedo Boat # 13) and USS Davis (Torpedo Boat # 12) off Tatoosh Island, Washington, on 24 May 1912. They were parting company with USS Nero which had towed them from San Francisco, California, to the vicinity of the Puget Sound, Washington, Navy Yard, where they were to join the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Nero was on the first leg of the 1912 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (US Naval Historical Centre Photo # NH 105443).